Lancaster

Yet this 22-year-old from a small school tucked in a town known more for its Amish crafts than computer programming skills had managed to do the unthinkable: overcome 3,000 miles of distance and a deep cultural divide to land his dream job.

Most of us have forgotten the unique rhythmic noise of words being typed on a page with a typewriter. What we know these days is soft and sometimes silent, whether composed with our fingers or our thumbs. Tim Youd has not forgotten that original sound.

George Duke was then Zappa's keyboardist, an integral part of the band: a good looking, sturdily built guy with a most genial manner. He seemed to like me; he'd nod at me and tell me about the "fine doobie" he had, and lead me to his van parked in the alley behind the rehearsal space.

Smaller institutions can give us lessons about how to stimulate, strengthen and substantiate the values that reside in true community. I think we need to know more about what they do and how they do it.